Process for the removal of insecticidal residues from fruits and vegetables



UNHTED STATES PATENT OFFICE PROCESS FOR THE REMOVAL OF INSECTI- CIDAL RESIDUES FROM FRUITS AND VEGETABLES Roscoe H. Carter, Washington, D. 0.; dedicated to the free use of the Public of the United States of America No Drawing. Application May 23, 1934,

Serial No. 727,141

'1 Claims. (01. 99-103) (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) This application is made under the act of March temperature of the cleaning solution the shorter 3, 1883, as amended by the act of April 30, 1928, the time required to remove the residues from the and the invention herein described, if patented, fruit and vegetables, such temperature of course may be manufactured and used by or for the Govnot being sufiiciently high as to injure the fruit ernment for governmental purposes without the or vegetables. After treatment in this cleaning payment to me of any royalty thereon. solution the fruit or vegetablesv are rinsed with I hereby dedicate the invention herein dewater to remove the cleaning solution. scribed to the free use of-the Public in the ter- Having fully discl s d my v y. I claim: ritory of the United States of America to take A pr s f r h m v l of insecticidal 0 effect upon the granting of a patent to me. fluorine residues from fruits and vegetables com- This invention relates to the use ofcertain compri ing th app a i n to th frui s nd ve e l binations of chemicals to remove or dissolve cerof a water solution of ferric sulphate followed by tain insecticidal residues from deciduous fruits washing with water to remove said solution. and from vegetables. 2. A process for the removal of insecticidal It has been found by experimentation that ferfluorine residues from fruits and vegetables com- 15 ric salts such as the sulphate and chloride when prising the application to the fruits and vegetaadded to water or to aqueous solutions of hydrm bles. of a water solution of ferric chloride followed chloric acid or sulphuric acid materially increase by washing with water to remove said solution. their solvent action on residues left after spray- 3. A process for the removal of insecticidal fluing or dusting with certain insecticidal materials. orine r sidue from fruits and vegetables mp 20 The residues in question are fluorine-containin h pp i n to h fr i d v l s ing deposits remaining on fruits and vegetables of a Water solution of hydrochloric acid and also after the application of.such materials as sodium ferric Sulphate followed y Washing .With Water fiuoaluminate (cryolite, natural or synthetic), poto remove said solution.

tassium fluoaluminate, barium fluosilicate, sodium A p s for the removal of insecticidal u- 25 fluosilicate, sodium fiuofcrrate, potassium fluoorin r s fr m fr and vegetables ferrate, nicotine fluosilicate, etc. prising the application to the fruits and vegetables The deciduous fruits referred to are apples, of a water solution of hydrochloric acid and also pears plums, prunes, peaches, apricots, quin ferric chloride followed by washing with water to cherries, grapes, currants, gooseberries, raspberove Sa d olut on. 30

ries, strawberries, blackberries, etc. The vegeta- 5. A p ess o the removal of insecticidal flublcs include beans, celery, greens such as spinach, r ne residues f fruits d V e s 00 chard, etc., peas. lettuce, tomatoes etc. prising the application 0 the fruits and Ve eta- The removal of the insecticidal residues is efbles of a water solution of sulfuric acid and also fected by washing the fruit or vegetables in a ferric sulfate, followed by washing with water to 30 suitable washing apparatus with water or an remove said solution. aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid or sulphuric 6. A process for the removal of insecticidal fluacid to which has been added ferric salts at such orine residues from fruits and vegetables comconcentrations as will be effective. For most purprising the application to the fruits and vegetables poses the concentration of the acid should be from of a water solution of sulfuric acid and also fer- 40 0.1 percent to 2.5 percent hydrochloric acid (HCl) ric chloride, followed by washing with water to or sulphuric acid (H2804) and the concentration remove said solution. of the ferr lts fr m 1 p n to 5 p r n '7. A process for the removal of insecticidal flu.- r ferric Sulp ate [F2(SO4)3] or ferric chloride orine residues from fruits and vegetables compris- (FeCls.6H2O) ing the application to the fruits and vegetables of The Co centrations of Solvents and length of a water solution of a mineral acid selected from time required for removal of the residue are the group consisting of hydrochloric acid and sulpendent on the temperature of the Solution, the furic acid and also a ferric salt selected from the yp O Washing machine and amount 0f agita' group consisting of ferric sulfate and ferric chlotion, the amount and nature of the residue preS- ride, followed by washing with water to remove ent and the amount of wax or oil that may be on d mtie the fruit at the time of washing. The higher the v OE H, A TER. 

